Get fit; watch your sugary cravings

IN HIS fifth blog for Cumbernauld Media, Cumbernauld fitness guru John Allan talks about cravings.

I am pretty certain that every one of you reading this article has at some time or other experienced a craving for some type of food.

More often or not it is something that will not be beneficial to your health. As I’ve stated many times in the past, my downfall is chocolate….or to be more specific, the sugar that’s in the chocolate.

Sugar lies at the root of most cravings and is a highly addictive substance. In fact studies have shown sugar to be more addictive than cocaine!!

Tests carried out on rats where sugar and cocaine were offered, 94% of rats chose sugar. When sugar was offered as a 2nd choice alongside cocaine, cocaine addicted rats changed their preference to sugar!

Refined sugar is behind many health problems such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and weight gain.

Candida Albicans is a fungal growth with we all have living inside of us. Is has a job to do and helps break foods down and helps us stay fit and well.

However too much of this fungus can lead to Candidiasis, presenting a whole host of symptoms. Usually Candidiasis flourishes when antibiotics have been used. All the good gut bacteria are killed off when fighting an infection and this allows Candida to get out of control.

Your exposure to antibiotics through meat and milk will lend itself to upsetting the balance of flora in your gut. In fact the modern day diet is really an extravaganza for Candida to multiply and get out of hand.

Sugar, in all forms, foods that have gone through a fermentation process such as alcohol, bread, cheese, vinegars, soy sauce and certain fungus promoting foods such as sweet corn , pistachio nuts and mushrooms will all feed Candida.

Ever wonder where your cravings come from….now you know. Out of control Candida can cause a whole host of problems, from hay fever to IBS, headaches, migraines, anxiety, depression, bloating, athlete’s foot, poor memory, dizziness, poor coordination, asthma, in addition to psoriasis and sinus problems. This list goes on and on.

Whenever I go on a chocolate binge after giving in to a craving, I feel great whilst eating the stuff. I feel happy and content, almost euphoric. But the next morning I can guarantee I will have a blocked nose, a headache and feel as if I am hung-over. I am lethargic, listless and very unproductive.

The reason for this is that I have given into Candida when It shouted for more sugar. It gets fed and I feel happy at the time. However when Candida is fed, a waste product is given off (acetaldehyde) which in turn makes me feel pretty bad. Sugar is one form of rocket fuel along with the fermented foods and fungi I mentioned above for Candida.

Maybe you have experienced the same sort of food hangover that I have.

What else can contribute to an overgrowth of candida? The contraceptive pill can upset the apple cart due to the hormone estragon.

Stress, promotes cortisol, suppresses the immune system and boosts blood sugar will feed candida. The immune system is powerless to fight back.

Amalgam fillings which contain mercury weaken the immune system. There is always a constant vapour from these fillings which leaches into the body and intestines, killing off the good bacteria, allowing candida to take hold. Ideally these amalgams should be removed under controlled conditions.

Fillings

The chlorine and fluoride in our drinking water will again affect the good bacteria in our digestive tract. It’s not only drinking water straight from the tap that can cause us problems but the showering and bathing in this type of water will cause ill effects.

So what’s the solution to overcoming Candida?

Cutting down on what it is that’s causing the problem in the first place. Remove sugar from the diet. That includes all forms from fruit to honey and pretty much anything that ends in ‘ose’. Refined carbs including bread and pasta should also be removed.

Avoid where possible anything that compromises the immune system. Filter your drinking water and fit a filter to the shower head to counteract the effects of chlorine

If your stress bucket is overflowing then, it’s time to empty it. Ask for help, and stop trying to do everything yourself around the house. If your job is dragging you down then change it. It’s your life and you can do whatever you choose to do.

Cut out caffeine which only adds stress to the body.

When you have removed the fuel on which candida thrives, you can then start to introduce good bacteria into the equation through probiotics.

Coconut oil is excellent in fighting candida and the resulting cravings. Lean meats and plenty of fish, raw nuts and seeds as well as omega oils will really help too.

Excellent in the fight against excess candida - A good source of clean fresh drinking water along with herbal, non-caffeinated teas is vital in the battle against Candida. Being fully hydrated allows proper hydration of the tissues and which is crucial to the elimination of the fungus.

Just paying attention to these few things can go a long way to helping balance out the good bacteria and overcome candida.

The more alkaline your body becomes the better.

Stay Healthy; Stay Strong.

John.

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